The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-14

Ciccly was neatly dressed and sent to
the village school, where some OF her
actions tended to strengthen the sur
mise that there was "bad blood in her
veins. She was certainly full Of mis-
chief" both at home and at school.
"But it's innocent kind of mischief"
said Uncle Zenas. .'She amt bit
tricky or mean or dishonest, and l
don't believe she ever told story
in her life. The child never had any
fun before, and she has to have
good deal now TO make up for what
she's lost
This kindly view of the matter was
very comforting to Cicely, and was not
calculated to lay her under any great
restraint The neighborhood was emil
nently respectable, and most dccorous
in its conduct. Most of the families
could produce documents in proof
of their responsibility. and Ccely was
-"goodness only knows what or who. "
The opinion was gaining ground that
she would one day burn the house over
the heads of Aunt Serelda and Uncle
Zenas and decamp with their silver
spoons and candlestcks.
Uncle Zenas, hearing this, said to
Cicely, I'D trust you with my old
pocket book, and all that's in it, any
day
'And wouldn' touch nickel of it,
said Cicely, stoutly and truthfully;
then she added, very earnestly, "Be
cause / know that you know, and feel
that yOw feel that wouldn't"
That was the best definition of the
word confidence ever heard" said
Uncle Zenas.
Thanksgiving day came, and there
was some one to be supremacy happy
over the ginger-snap horses and the
'double-and-twistc doughnuts Aunt
Serelda made, and to 'stuif herself on
Uncle Zenas' finest gobler. Ciccly was
very, very happy. She was very CRATE
'ul, loO, duu Olicl Saul W hct sui
II only wish | could do omcthing to
show how much 'bliged | am. just
washing dishes and sweeping up and
carrying in chips and peeling potatoes
and running of arrands ant anything
Mt all. p"
The fierce New England winter came
early that year. and fingered long The
coolest inhabtant'' had never known
colder one. Snow fell almost every
day after the first of November; the
strong, cold winds blew day and night
the snow drifted. and for days there
was no sunshine.
But Uncle Zenas went his hard
round day after day; his CHEEKY voice
rang out in song through the dark and
dreary woods; he urged his old horse
on through drifts of snow; his bell
rang its notes of merry warning be-
fore doors closed and boltcd against
the winters storms. His burly figure.
muflled to the chin. clambercd out of
the cart, and appeared in snug kitchens
even on these clustering stormy days.
Its great 'commodation TO have
YOU come round with so many things
we need and can't go to the store for in
this weather." said his patrons. but,
really, Uncle Zenas, you ought not to
expose yourself so. at your age
"Oh, l guess I'll stand it,, Uncle
Zenas would reply. "You know I'm
poor man. with my living to make in
all kinds of weather, and the only way
to make anything in my business is to
keep at it. sell more this kind of
weather, for folks would rather buy of
me than go TO town over these awful
roads"
Aunt Serelda worried great deal
about Uncle Zenas that winter, and her
anxiety was shared by Cicely. She
would follow Uncle Zenas to the cart.
and hold the rcins while he Struggled
himself up in blankets and robes and
drew on his great mittens And when
he came home, after dark, Cioely would
be first to hear him singing
''rm a-coming home, I'm a-coming home
I'm a-coming home TO you;
, I'm a-coming home, I'm a-conlng home,
Oh, fiddle DUN, DUN, dor'
1t was a great secret in the Keer
family that Uncle Zenas had made
that song up himself, although the.
neighborhood had half defined sus-